Selectively variable dispenser-type container for the periodic dispensing of coffee or other flowable product



\ April 22, 1969 M. l.. MARLAND 3,439,827

SELECTIVELY VARIABLE DISPENSERTYPE CONTAINER FOR THEPERIODIC DISPENSING OF COFFEE OR OTHER FLOWABLE PRODUCT Filed March 4, 1968 1N VEN TOR n f f f r f 1 a /4 MILTON L. MARVLAND ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,439,827 SELECTIVELY VARIABLE DISPENSER-TYPE CON- TAINER FOR THE PERIODHC DESPENSING OF COFFEE OR OTHER FLOWABLE PRODUCT Milton L. Marlanrl, 1625 Forest Lane, McLean, Va. 22101 Filed Mar. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 710,159 Int. Cl. B651! 83/07, 77/04, 75/38, 23/12 U.S. Cl. 21S-100 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A selectively variable-capacity dispenser-type container for coffee, cocoa, tea, powdered milk, or other fiowable product to be periodically dispensed therefrom, the container having one end closed and its other end open with a removable and replaceable cover, a flexible bag also having one end open and its other end closed for disposition in the container to form a liner and adapted to receive therein material to be dispensed, the open end portion of the bag being adapted to be reversely extended about the open end of the container to form a seal between the open end of the container and its closure and with such bag yieldably and frictionally held against the interior of the container so that its body may be moved step by step to expose the contents of the container adjacent to its open end and with minimum space for air which would cause deterioration to the contents of the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention is in the field of containers for substances which are dispensed portion by portion from time to time such as coffee, cocoa, tea, dried milk, or other owable product.

Description of the prior art Finely ground substances, such as instant coffee, instant tea, cocoa, powdered milk, dry cereals, and the like are sold in containers with removable and replaceable covers so that the contents may be periodically dispensed in small quantities by means of a spoon or the like. As the contents are removed ordinarily the air space increases with the product exposed thereto and sustaining greater deterioration. Further it becomes increasingly dicult and awkward to obtain an adequate amount of the contents with a spoon due to the lowering of the level in the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is the combination of a container with an open end, a closure therefor, and a liner by which the contents of the container can be advanced toward the open end through which the contents may be dispensed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive container of conventional character open at one end with a closure for such opening and with a correspondingly simple, inexpensive open ended bag or liner, the open end of which bag or liner can be folded back over the open end of the container little by little as the contents of the container are used, for keeping the contents easily accessible and for minimizing the amount of deteriorating air to which the contents are subjected during intervals between the times the contents are being dispensed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring member for the closed end of the liner or bag for expanding it into frictional engagement with the interior of the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liner of the character indicated which will serve as a sealing gasket between the container and its closure and which liner also is provided with longitudinal and transverse tear l1nes and pull tabs for the removal of excess portions of the liner exteriorly of the container after the cap is applied.

A further object is to provide a tubular container open at one end and having a nonstatic plastic liner bag, open at the corresponding end, and of a length and diameter larger than that of the container and which is initially completely received within the container for noninterference with the initial waxed paper sealing of the container and having a radially expansive device therein for yieldably but firmly holding the liner bag in any position to which it is raised in the container and with the open end portion of the liner bag provided with a plurality of selective pull tabs and length-shortening structure.

These and other objects of the invention and the advantages that it provides will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the initially filled, sealed and closed container with its liner bag entirely contained therein;

FIG. 2, a side elevational view of a fully open liner bag turcrired through degrees relative to the showing in FI 1;

FIG. 3, a longitudinal sectional View showing a partially filled container with its liner bag raised and held at an intermediate elevation therein to position the upper surface of the remaining contents thereof adjacent the mouth of the container;

FIG. 4, a side elevation of a closed and partially filled container showing the liner forming a sealing gasket for the container closure cap while frictionally being firmly held at an intermediate elevation in the container and also the manner of removal of excess liner bag material exteriorly of the container;

FIG. 5, a plan view of the plastic spring member of the liner bag; and

FIG. 6, a transverse sectional view of the spring member taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention comprises a container 10 which has a bottom wall 11, an inner tubular wall 12, and an open upper end 13. The container may be of glass, cardboard, metal, plastic, or of any other suitable material. The inner wall 12 of the container may be of constant or of variable diameter or like transverse dimension, as desired, and adjacent its upper open end 13 has outer side projections 14 forming a thread for engagement with corresponding threads 15 on a cap closure member 16. It is to be understood, however, that the projections 14 may be omitted if a smooth tubular seating surface for a correspondingly formed closure cap is preferred.

Within the container 10 is a plastic liner forming bag 18 havng a flat bottom wall 19. While it is intended that the liner 18 preferably be formed of a nonstatic plastic material, such as polyethylene, for example, it may be formed of any other appropriate flexible material. Also, it may be colorless or tinted in conformity with the color of the product to be contained. The liner 18 is intended to have a length somewhat in excess of the length of the container and the diameter of the major portion of the liner is sufliciently greater than the outside diameter of the container so that the open end may be freely extended heyond the container and rolled over its open end 13 and reversely around the outside wall thereof. Extending toward its bottom closed end 19 from an intermediate point below the lowermost transverse tear line 30', the liner is progressively reduced in diameter (FIG. 2) until at its fiat closed end 19 it is only slightly larger than the maximum inner diameter of the tubular wall 12 of the container. However, if desired, the maximum diameter of the liner may be maintained uniform throughout.

Located within and adjacent the bottom of the liner 18 is a generally circular plastic spring disk member 20, preferably of the same material and preferably the same color as the liner. It comprises a central body portion 22 having peripheral outwardly extending spring fingers 24. 'I'he plastic spring member causes the bottom wall of the liner to become relatively rigid, in effect. The central body portion 22 of member 20 should be of a diameter less than the minimum diameter of the tubular chamber inner wall 12 and the open end or mouth 13 of the container, while the `outer diameter of the spring fingers 24 may be appreciably in excess of the maximum diameter of the chamber wall 12. This permits the spring member and the plastic liner in which it is contained to be movable axially of the chamber 12 toward and through the open end thereof, while at the same time the spring fingers 24 will be materially deformed or flexed by their contact with chamber wall 12 thereby creating a frictional holding and supporting of the liner 18 at 18a. While the shape and type of spring member may be as described and illustrated, it is to be understood that other types or shapes may be used as desired. Moreover, the plastic spring disk member may be freely disposed in the liner and in contact with bottom wall 19 thereof or attached thereto; or, if preferred, may be directly secured to the underside of the liner bag bottom wall.

Extending away from the edge 26 of the liner are a plurality of equally spaced pull tabs 28. As clearly shown in FIGS. l and 2, a series of equally spaced, parallel and transversely extending tear lines 30 are provided in the tubular wall of the liner or bag 18 inwardly from its open end 26 and spaced a short distance from its closed end 19, as shown in FIG. 2. Also extending inwardly from the edge 26 is a single longitudinally extending tear line 32 angularly offset from the pull tabs. The tear lines in the bag may be formed therein by heat and pressure, or in any other manner. The pull tabs 28 form an integral part of each of the parallel transverse tear lines 30 and are longitudinally aligned with each other, as shown in FIG. l.

When the container is initially filled with the desired material, such as a food product or other material, powdered coffee being an example of one such suitable material, the empty liner or bag 18, with the plastic spring member 20 disposed at the bottom thereof, is forced inwardly in the chamber 10 of the container in any preferred manner until it contacts the inner or bottom wall 11 thereof, at which time the upper end of the liner or bag 18 will extend freely a short distance outwardly of the container open end or mouth. After the bag is filled with the desired material, its free end is then folded closed and pressed against the upper surface of the material within the container, as indicated at 36 in FIG. 4. The usual initial jar sealing paper disk 38 is then secured onto the container open end 13 after which the closure cap 16 is tightly screwed onto the container.

When the closed and filled container thereafter is initially opened, including removal of sealing disk 38, the free end of the liner or bag is then turned or rolled outwardly and reversely over the container open end wall 13 and around the exterior of the container in a manner corresponding to the showing in FIG. 3. After removal of a desired small amount of the material from the container, the screw closure cap 16 is then screwed onto the open end of the container and over the liner or bag rolledover portion 40' in pressure contact therewith (FIG. 4) thereby forming a sealing gasket for the container cap in lieu of the now removed paper seal 38.

When the surface level of the contained material is lowered by the removal of a portion thereof to a level inconvenient for its removal from the container by means of a conventional spoon or similar device and also to minimize possible deterioration of the material by the presence of excess air, the liner is then pulled upwardly, by means of its pull tabs 28, in the container to place the upper surface 42 (FIG. 4) of the contained material contiguous to the open end 13 of the container by pulling reversely, externally of the container, on the pull tabs 28 (FIG. 3).

'Ihe radially outwardly directed pressure of the fingers 24 of the spring washer 20 is such as to permit this movement when a moderate amount of manual force is applied on the pull tabs, However, the radial force so exerted by the spring lingers 24 is sufficiently great to provide adequate friction between portion 18a of the liner and the interior wall 12 of the container 10 to firmly hold and support the now partially filled liner or bag at any desired raised position in the container. The screw cap is again secured onto the container and in compressing engagement with the rolled-over portion of the liner or bag to again thereby effectively seal the container against the entry of air thereto.

Since ultimately an excess of the liner or bag 18 will extend down and below the cap 16, such excess portion may easily be removed by first tearing the bag upwardly from its lower free edge along the longitudinally extending tear line 32 to one of the transverse tear lines 30 (FIG. 4) appearing just below the cap. The excess portion may then be completely torn off from around the container along that particular tear line. As the level of the container contents continues to be lowered through repeated removal of portions thereof, the procedure just described is repeated as often as `desired to obtain cornplete removal of the entire contents of the container.

While the invention has been shown and described in accordance with the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes in the details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for holding owable material such as matter in finely divided form for removal therefrom in relatively small quantities for use with other substances, said container being closed at one end to provide a chamber therein with longitudinal side walls extending from a bottom wall at said closed end, the opposite end of said chamber being open with a removable closure therefor, a fiexible liner bag having bottom and side wall portions slidably positioned in said chamber and adapted to receive therein the owable material to be dispensed, means operatively associated with said flexible liner bag for effecting relative rigidity of its bottom wall portion, said liner bag being of a size and length for initial contact of its bottom wall portion with the bottom wall of said chamber and with its side wall portions in slidable contact with the chamber side walls and -with its open end portion initially movable from a closed position within said chamber to an open position extending outwardly of the open end of said container and reversely disposable in rolled over slidable relation relative to the open end of the chamber and about the exterior side walls of said container, said slidable liner bag being positionable in said container to space its bottom wall at selective distances from said chamber bottom wall to dispose the upper surface of the contents of the liner bag in proximity to the open end of the container for convenience of access thereto and to minimize the presence of air within said container at said open end thereof.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which the reversely disposable open end portion of said liner bag comprises sealing means between said removable closure and said container in any selected longitudinal position of said liner bag in said container, said means operatively associated with said liner bag constituting means to cause said liner bag bottom wall portion to be frictionally maintained at said spaced selective distances from the bottom wall of said container.

3. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liner bag has spaced tear lines and a plurality of pull tabs providing means for manually pulling said liner bag along the length of said chamber to variably position said liner bag therein.

4. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liner bag has transversely extending tear lines and a plurality of pull tabs in each of said tear lines providing means for manually longitudinally moving said liner bag therein, said pull tabs being longitudinally aligned, at least one longitudinal tear line intersecting at least one transversely extending tear line and offset from said pull tabs.

5. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means operatively associated with said flexible liner bag comprises spring means located in the bottom of said liner bag for expanding the latter into contact with said container.

6. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means operatively associated with said flexible liner bag comprises a spring member -located adjacent to the closed end of the liner bag for outwardly expanding the latter into frictional holding contact with said container, said spring member having a central body portion and a plurality of peripherally spaced fingers extending radially outwardly therefrom for exerting pressure radially to produce a yieldable frictional engagement of the liner bag with the interior of the container wall for support thereof intermediate the ends of said container.

7. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which the bottom wall portion of the liner bag is of reduced transverse size, but larger than the minimum transverse size of the interior of said container, said means operatively associated with said liner bag for effecting relative rigidity of its bottom wall portion being carried by said liner bag adjacent its bottom wall portion and comprising means to cause said liner bag bottom portion to be yieldably maintained at said selective distances from the bottom wall of said container.

8. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means operatively associated with said flexible liner bag comprises spring means located in the bottom of said liner bag for expanding the latter into Contact With said container, said spring means comprising a generally planar device having a central body portion and a plurality of peripherally spaced fingers extending outwardly therefrom for exerting pressure radially outward to produce a yieldable friction-engagement of the liner bag with the interior of the container wall for support of said liner bag intermediate the ends of said chamber, the area of said central body portion being less than the transverse area of said chamber, and the total area of said spring means being appreciably greater than the transverse area of said chamber when said spring means is placed in said chamber in a position normal to the longitudinal axis of the latter, thereby causing flexing of said spring means and exerting said radially outward friction creating pressure against the interior wall of said container.

9. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said means operatively associated with said flexible liner bag is carried thereby and comprises a nonmetallic spring operative to frictionally engage said bottom end portion of the liner bag with the longitudinal side walls of the container to yieldably maintain said liner bag in any position in the container to which it is slidably moved.

10. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said liner bag has spaced and transversely extending tear lines formed therein and at least one generally longitudinally extending tear line means intersecting said spaced and transversely extending tear lines, said spaced and transversely extending tear lines including pull tab means formed therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 866,243 9/ 1907 Waechter. 1,773,070 8/ 1930 Willauer 220-93 2,025,932 12/1935 Beldin 220-63 2,110,615 3/1938 Wilcox. 2,131,855 10/1938 Hummel 220-63 X 2,346,407 4/ 1944 Wright. 2,557,576 6/1951 Simmons. 2,911,307 11/1959 Handler. 3,129,867 4/ 1964 Schroeder.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

